Home Crime RCSO: Larceny suspect leads Richmond County deputies on chase

RCSO: Larceny suspect leads Richmond County deputies on chase

ROCKINGHAM — A breaking and entering suspect led deputies of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office on a pursuit Tuesday evening.

Deputies responded to a call about a breaking and entering and larceny of an outbuilding in the area of Memory Lane, off Washington Street Extension, just after 5:30 p.m., according to a press release.

The victim reportedly told deputies that the suspect was driving a 2000 Pontiac Firebird. 

Deputies were also told that the suspect, 56-year-old Jeffrey Lynn Dawkins, of Ellerbe Hatchery Road, Ellerbe, was a suspect in several other break-ins, according to the release.

A short time later, deputies saw the Firebird and attempted to perform a traffic stop near the Little Philadelphia community, but Dawkins allegedly refused to stop, which led to a chase down U.S. 1 and through Roberdel.

Dawkins was finally apprehended on Old Aberdeen Road, taken to the magistrate’s office and booked into the Richmond County Jail, where he is being held under a $250,000 secured bond.

He is charged with one felony count each of breaking entering, larceny, fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon on a government official; and two misdemeanor counts of injury to personal property.

Dawkins was also cited for reckless driving to endanger, exceeding a safe speed, driving with a revoked license, driving left of center, failure to stop at a stop sign or flashing red light, and having a fictitious registration.

He is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 9 on those charges.

Jail records show Dawkins is also charged with misdemeanor larceny and larceny of motor fuel, which carries an additional $1,000 secured bond. A court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 2 on those charges.

Records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction show Dawkins is currently serving an 18-month suspended sentence following a June 17 conviction of misdemeanor larceny and cruelty to animals.

Dawkins’ criminal history dates back more than 30 years, records show.

He was convicted in 1989 of receiving stolen goods and two vehicle registration violations in Richmond County.

Dawkins’ first felony conviction was in 1991 for breaking and entering in Montgomery County.

In 1994, Dawkins was convicted on five counts of writing worthless checks and one count of other misdemeanant.

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Between 1994 and 1995, he was also convicted of writing worthless checks in Moore, Cumberland, Scotland and Union counties, as well as cheating for property or services in Richmond County.

He was released from prison in February 1997, but convicted of misdemeanor larceny six months later. His probation was revoked the following year when he was also convicted of obtaining property by false pretenses, larceny by an employee and attempted breaking and entering.

In 2001, Dawkins was convicted of writing worthless checks and unauthorized use of motor conveyance in Moore County, landing him behind bars again.

Dawkins served more than five years in prison following a 2009 conviction on charges of larceny over $1,000, fleeing to elude arrest and being a habitual felon in Cumberland County.

His parole ended March 22 after serving 23 days in July 2020 for breaking and entering, larceny of a motor vehicle and hit and run causing injury.

All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

 



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